Messages

Agree.
It's a cynical holding up if play till defence gets organised tactic.
And then the ref moving it forward takes up even more time.

It's even worse when the ref stops to issue a yellow card. 

The other one is holding onto the ball after a free kick.  To me that should become a black card.  Regular cause of rows and often just as cyncial and impactful as a trip further up the field. 

If the Connacht Finalists are a disaster this year (hope not) You'll either have seeded Provincials (as in Leinster already) or else only the Champions get into Sam.

100%

You take Clare or Leitrim making it to AISFs in the 1990s.  There was something of a novelty about it - but it was once in a generation type stuff for both counties. They both played Dublin and the gap from those teams to the top table wasn't what it is now.  Also, they got there on merit. Clare by beating Kerry in the 1992 Munster Final. Leitrim done it the hard way by beating Roscommon, Galway and Mayo. 

However, if you take London's journey to the last 12 in 2013, I felt that was a bit of a joke.  London made it to that stage in the championship by virtue of beating weakest teams in Connacht and then getting into the last stage of the qualifiers by virtue of being hammered by Mayo. 

By not seeding the Connacht championship, one of the weakest teams in the country has a bye to the all-lreland series where they are liable to be hammered in every game.  They will not be there on merit (unlike Clare and Lietrim) and their opposition will be miles ahead of them. 

In time, does this structure not raise the risk of a moral hazard, whereby it maybe in the interest of the strong Division 1 teams have an early provincial exit.  Firstly, could this allow them to hone their preparations for the last 16 and avoid injuries.  Secondly, might it suit them to have weaker teams reaching a provincial final, thereby weakening the pool of opposing teams they might face in the last 16?

There is no team in Division 1 that can credibly say that they aren't nervous about relegation - perhaps apart from Kerry.  When Dublin went down last year, that probably demonstrated it best.  But every Division 1 team except Tyrone, Monaghan and Kerry have been in Division 2 in the previous 4 seasons. Tyrone were in Division 2 in 2016 and were maybe lucky enough to avoid it last year. Monaghan were relegated on paper, in the second half, of the final game in in each of the last 3 seasons. 

Donegal and Roscommon winning today has thrown the cat among the pigeons. Could be a very interesting league.

I find the Rafferty experiment  fascinating.  People compare it with Morgan and Beggan.  But it's different because Rafferty is a genuine county forward. 

I thought he done rightly last night, although he made three mistakes:
- Carried the ball into the tackle high up the pitch, that led to McCambridge's yellow and broke the 10 minutes of momentum we had after half time. It was the only time he was turned over, but thought maybe he got carried away with Armagh's dominance and decided to take a risk.  Hopefully he will learn from that. 
- One bad kickout. It was the only really bad one though and that wasn't bad going in that type of game.  He (and the Armagh half-back line / midfielders) coped better with Monaghan pushing up on our kickouts, than Began did when Armagh pushed up early in the second half. 
- The foul for the penalty which was a bit of a mad forwards tackle - would need to learn from it too. Wonder who they have as a goalkeeping coach. 

On the flipside, some of his forward play was excellent. He played like a centre half forward, passing some very accurate ball into the full forwards and used the ball very intelligently. Great point from play which must be crushing for the opposition. 

I think his shot stopping and positioning is subpar for an intercounty goalie. I'm not convinced over a season he will work out as an overall net positive or a negative but I'd agree it interesting to see happen.

I imagine some club and county keepers around the country will be disgusted with it. 

I find the Rafferty experiment  fascinating.  People compare it with Morgan and Beggan.  But it's different because Rafferty is a genuine county forward. 

I thought he done rightly last night, although he made three mistakes:
- Carried the ball into the tackle high up the pitch, that led to McCambridge's yellow and broke the 10 minutes of momentum we had after half time. It was the only time he was turned over, but thought maybe he got carried away with Armagh's dominance and decided to take a risk.  Hopefully he will learn from that. 
- One bad kickout. It was the only really bad one though and that wasn't bad going in that type of game.  He (and the Armagh half-back line / midfielders) coped better with Monaghan pushing up on our kickouts, than Began did when Armagh pushed up early in the second half. 
- The foul for the penalty which was a bit of a mad forwards tackle - would need to learn from it too. Wonder who they have as a goalkeeping coach. 

On the flipside, some of his forward play was excellent. He played like a centre half forward, passing some very accurate ball into the full forwards and used the ball very intelligently. Great point from play which must be crushing for the opposition. 

   

[A testing campaign beckons for Monaghan, who between retirements and travel will need to find a number of new faces, starting on Saturday.]

Irish Times previews
https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/gaelic-games/2023/01/28/weekend-gaelic-games-previews/
Saturday
DIVISION ONE

Monaghan v Armagh, St Mary's Park, Castleblayney, 6.30 (Live BBC iPlayer) – A testing campaign beckons for Monaghan, who between retirements and travel will need to find a number of new faces, starting on Saturday. Stephen O'Hanlon is back involved but a number of experienced players – Conor McManus and the Hughes's – aren't quite ready. Armagh were nearly caught in this fixture last year but the trajectory of both teams has been contrasting in the interim. Kieran McGeeney has also added to his panel during the McKenna Cup and the visitors look primed to kick on this year. Verdict: Armagh

How many times have we read this kind of analysis on the first game of the league and it's been proved to be off the mark.  First round and last round always throw up a few surprises!!

There were fine lines throughout that campaign. 
Eoin Brosnan's very, very narrow wide in the final
Ray Cosgrove's missed free in the semi
Sligo's penalty claim in the QF replay
Dara McGarty's fisted equaliser should have been a goal
... and Richard Thornton...... 

That's football...

I wonder if either of these teams are back training yet. If either of them got back into training it would give them an edge for the potential replay.

I would say they are unless KC are planning on flat out refusing to play a replay or Glen are intending on not playing. Don't think either are too likely
Too much at stake to be still on the beer.

There is zero chance that either team will replay this game.

I agree. Glen are just making a point to say this was a f**k up.

It must be great to be so sure of yourself 

At no point in this will KC say they didn't have 16 players on the pitch, just forget about Mannion, it doesn't come into it all all, standing on the pitch side of the sideline is nowhere near what was going on.

The problem Glen may have is if Crokes said they followed procedure i.e sub slips and the 4th official let the ref know, but he waved it on (thinking the player had left) it will be a tough one to lose, as in forfeit, which within the overall rules they can lose it.

Croke park will have to wait for the referee's report first, they will not have seen it till after Glen put in an appeal, these things are generally posted or on occasions emailed, but I think this one will be meticulously written up.. Glen will get a copy as will KC so I'd say this is a big fecking headace now..

I really feel for the officials on that side and the ref tbh, because up to that point he'd a brilliant game, and it was a penalty 

Is this procedure documented anywhere?  Where?

I understand what you say about feeling sorry for the ref... BUT

If he was informed about the transgression and didn't act, then I'm sorry, but no matter how good a game he had, this is a massive error in judgement

If he wasn't informed, then the 4th official has made the error as he should have been screaming on the radio to the ref to not restart the game

Controlling substitutions is his primary role

Assuming O'Rourke is a man of his word and he did inform the sideline official at the time, then, between them, the officials should have forced the 45 to be retaken

It would have been slightly controversial at the time, and even more so had Glen scored, but nothing to this shit storm

The rule is clear and states that there are 3 possible scenarios. One - Glen are awarded the game. 2 - A replay. 3. A fine. Based on the severity of the transgression it is clear to me the only fair solution is a fine.

Let's look at what is at stake in the final minutes of a football match.  This is where games are won and lost as Kilcoo showed against Kilmacud last year.
Let's throw the same situation into another scenario.

2017 AI Final: Dublin Mayo. May 1pt with for the last play. They have a kickout.
https://youtu.be/iYBFoI-fznE?t=6134

Dublin apply a full court press.  Every Mayo player is being tightly marked, or illegally held.

Now let us imagine, Dublin make a substitute, but substituted player stays on the pitch. It's hypothetical, but do I believe that they didn't do it on purpose - do I give the benefit of the doubt?  An honest mistake in the heat of the moment?  Blame the referee, linesman, fourth official?  Or is it the worst kind of cynicism with a £5,000 fine coming the winner's way, but no way are they going to lose that kickout?

Either way, the loosing team robbed of an opportunity to equalise.  These moments are the essence of the game.  A whole season or career distilled into those few seconds. 

There is no way a fine is the appropriate penalty, because you cannot give the benefit of the doubt in this scenario.  All you do with a fine is encourage cynicism. 

Moral Hazard: Lack of incentive to guard against risk where one is protected from its consequences

That is the one compelling reason for a replay - the setting of a ridiculous precedent. 
If this is let go, then teams protecting a slender lead can sneak on an extra player to see the game out.

Big year for Armagh.  Last year they had great momentum, benefiting from Dublin and Tyrone's poor form and carried an element of surprise and very good form into both games, running up big first half leads.  However, after that their form dipped quite a bit - they were poor against Monaghan, unconvincing against Kildare, beat by Mayo, Kerry and Donegal.  Hope it won't be the case, but I can see Armagh supporters biting their nails on the last day. 

I see it finishing like this. 

Mayo - McStay to get a new manager bounce
Tyrone - Bit between the teeth after a poor 2022
Galway - Expect them to continue from where they left off last year
Kerry - Might take them a while to get going
Armagh - Despite good performances last year, they were still inconsistent overall; don't see that changing and likely to drop important points
Monaghan - Corey to get a bit of a bounce - will take a few scalps
Roscommon - Will be surprised if they stay up given their history of yo-yoing
Donegal - Look like a team entering transition and losing momentum

Monaghan are in Division One longer than every team in Ireland apart from  Kerry. The hoors got Galway relegated in 2021 via a playoff.

Did I read somewhere that in the second-half of the last game of the league for each of the last three years, Monaghan have been relegated on paper, before pulling it out of the bag before the final whistle. 

Corey's big problem is that a number of his go-to men are well on the wrong side of 30. But I can see them getting a bit of a bounce from a new manager, and I wouldn't bet against them against Armagh in Blaney in the first game. 

Can you post a link Itchy, they haven't got it listed online

Does anyone know is the Armagh - Cavan match streaming anywhere online?

I'm no economist, but the current rise in inflation, is it not being driven by supply chain issues (Brexit/Russian Oil/Gas) and Corporate greed rather than too much spending and not enough demand?

Raising the interest rates will have a huge impact on those with mortgages and may already feel squeezed by the prices of everything else going up and could lead to a lot of defaulting!

I struggle to see how that is going to reduce inflation.

Supply chains are part of the issue.

Another big factor is QE:
https://www.bankofengland.co.uk/monetary-policy/quantitative-easing